Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

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Evaluation of labour market integration measures in Denmark shows
that relatively few instruments have an impact on labour market integration.
In fact, education and workfare programmes seem to delay rather than
enhance integration, probably due to the fact that immigrants have less time
to look for a job if they are under full-time activation (Clausen et al., 2006).
The only measure that resulted in a significant improvement appeared to be
enterprise-based job training: an increase in the average number of days in
private job training of 1% was associated with a reduction in the average
duration for starting employment of about five days (Heinesen et al., 2004).
However, only very few immigrants have profited from private job training.
Although Danish fluency increases an immigrant‘s chances of being
employed, the current policies stress this too much. Speaking the host
country language admittedly has a stronger impact in Denmark than
elsewhere. Constant and Schulz-Nielsen (2004) show that fluency in Danish
increases the chances of employment by a factor of about 3 to 4,
substantially higher than the figure for Germany. Language training remains
the most important expenditure on integration in Denmark. Empirical
analysis shows, however, that immigrants‘ chances of becoming selfsufficient
are greatly reduced while they are participating in a language
course (Clausen et al., 2006). This may indicate that language training in
Denmark is provided above an efficient level.
An infrastructure exists for the assessment of foreign qualifications,
under CIRIUS, an agency under the Ministry of Education. In 2004, five
regional knowledge centres for the assessment of the skills and
qualifications of immigrants were established by the Ministry of
Employment in co-operation with the confederations of employers and trade
unions. The task of these centres is to assist employers and municipalities in
the general assessment of immigrants‘ skills (practical competences rather
than formal qualifications). The assessment, generally conducted in the
workplace, is aimed at facilitating a potential employer‘s evaluation of
foreign qualifications. All persons with foreign qualifications are entitled to
have their qualifications assessed by CIRIUS, and these services are
generally provided for free. These centres also assist municipalities in their
integration efforts, in helping to find employment that matches the
immigrants‘ competences.
Attracting highly skilled people…
Many cities and countries are engaged in a race for talent. Attractive
immigration destinations, such as Canada, Australia and the United
Kingdom, have created what has been labeled ―competitive immigration
regimes‖ (Shachar, 2006), immigration programmes designed to attract